Seventh place Marseille host second place Lille in Ligue 1 on Friday night. The two rivals go into the fixture having won their most recent matches in the French top-flight.
Visitors Lille are looking to keep hold of second place. Currently three points ahead of third place Lyon, Lille must focus on staving off competition for the Ligue 1 runners-up position. Manager Christophe Galtier has seen his team record 40 points from 63 possible. Despite their good form this season, Lille will not catch league leaders Paris Saint-Germain, who are 13 points in front of them.
Marseille have been inconsistent to say the least. Manager Rudi Garcia is under immense pressure at the Stade Velodrome and he needs to win to preserve his coaching position. Marseille have collected 31 of 60 points possible this term, but still find themselves just five points off of fourth place. Expectations are always high at Marseille, but since losing the Europa League Final last May, they have not improved as a team.
Prior to Marseille’s win over Caen at the weekend, they had gone five matches without a win. Two of those games ended in losses. Garcia knows his team can defeat Lille. Marseille have posted the sixth best home record this term with 18 points from 27 taken at the Stade Velodrome. They have posted a +11-goal difference at home. Over half of Marseille’s 33 goals have come in their own stadium.
Lille have registered 16 points from 30 possible on their travels. While they have been difficult to beat at home, it has been Lille’s away form that has prevented a sustained title fight. Lille are just +1 in goal difference on the road with 13 goals scored.
Marseille have been brilliant against Lille in their last six meetings. Garcia’s team has won three and drawn two against Lille in that time span. Lille’s only win came earlier this term as they downed Marseille 3-0. That game was played in Lille where Galtier’s team is far stronger.
The last two matches between Marseille and Lille have seen a total of nine goals scored. However, the four matches prior saw goals hard to come by with each ending in under 2.5 goals. However, based on the way the two clubs are playing right now, both should score and conceded.
Garcia’s team may not be in the best form, but it has had the upper hand against Lille in recent seasons. In addition, Marseille have been good at home while Lille’s away form has been so-so. Marseille will edge the fixture with both teams finding the back of the net and over 2.5 goals being scored. Lille’s last four games have seen more than 2.5 goals scored and that trend won’t end on Friday night.